Renal clear cell carcinoma appearing as a left neck mass

Abstract

Malignant clear cell tumors of the head and neck are uncommon. Primary tumors may arise from the salivary glands, thyroid gland, or parathyroid glands, while metastatic tumors most commonly arise from the lungs, kidneys, and female genital tract. Renal cell carcinoma is the third most common metastatic tumor to the bone and soft tissues of the head and neck. Despite this, there have been few reported cases of renal clear cell carcinoma metastases to the neck. Here we report a unique case of an otherwise asymptomatic young woman with a left neck mass as the first clinical sign of advanced renal clear cell carcinoma.